Denmark is indeed a member of the EU, but has stipulated and won preconditions regarding monetary policy, military actions and policy, justice and home affairs and EU citizenship. Recently, Denmark's Radikal Venstre, or Radical Left, which is a centrist party, has expressed the desire to drop the precondition on justice and home affairs in reaction to debates currently ongoing in committees Denmark, despite holding the chair for the EU, cannot participate in. These debates center on human trafficking and Denmark's access to information. Currently, the situation was described by Sofie Nielsen, 'R', as similar to Norway's; Denmark stays quiet and copies the EU in these areas.
When Denmark recently passed new legislation raising the penalties for human trafficking from eight to ten years, an amendment was desired, granting visas to prostitutes victimized by traffickers if they turned over the people behind the scenes. This amendment never became law because the EU had not included this in its own version, which Denmark was copying. Radikal Venstre is seeking influence in the EU in areas of justice for Denmark, but to become influential, Denmark must drop its precondition on matters of justice and home affairs and seeks a referendum on this issue before 2013.
Such a referendum will signal a trend in Denmark towards Euro-centric attitudes and the tides of time will remove the remaining preconditions on matters of military, money and EU citizenship. However, this also will lead to a conflict in treaties. Denmark, a member of NATO, also as a special precondition allowing the nation to spend only 1% of its GDP on defense instead of 2% stipulated in the charter, in exchange for voluntary engagement in all NATO conflicts. This is why Denmark has been so active in the Middle East compared to most other NATO countries and the United States has been nothing be grateful for this. EU directives could interfere with this arrangement though.
Currently, the referendum would see over 40% support while under 30% oppose surrendering Denmark's preconditions. The last time a referendum on the Euro was held, the vote was split down the middle with a slight advantage to striking down the proposal. Over all, the next five years will likely see the Euro replace the Krone in Denmark and home affairs dealt with outside of Denmark, depending on the outcome of the referendum.
Radikale vil af med Forbehold
When Denmark recently passed new legislation raising the penalties for human trafficking from eight to ten years, an amendment was desired, granting visas to prostitutes victimized by traffickers if they turned over the people behind the scenes. This amendment never became law because the EU had not included this in its own version, which Denmark was copying. Radikal Venstre is seeking influence in the EU in areas of justice for Denmark, but to become influential, Denmark must drop its precondition on matters of justice and home affairs and seeks a referendum on this issue before 2013.
Such a referendum will signal a trend in Denmark towards Euro-centric attitudes and the tides of time will remove the remaining preconditions on matters of military, money and EU citizenship. However, this also will lead to a conflict in treaties. Denmark, a member of NATO, also as a special precondition allowing the nation to spend only 1% of its GDP on defense instead of 2% stipulated in the charter, in exchange for voluntary engagement in all NATO conflicts. This is why Denmark has been so active in the Middle East compared to most other NATO countries and the United States has been nothing be grateful for this. EU directives could interfere with this arrangement though.
Currently, the referendum would see over 40% support while under 30% oppose surrendering Denmark's preconditions. The last time a referendum on the Euro was held, the vote was split down the middle with a slight advantage to striking down the proposal. Over all, the next five years will likely see the Euro replace the Krone in Denmark and home affairs dealt with outside of Denmark, depending on the outcome of the referendum.
Radikale vil af med Forbehold
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